Low-maintenance perennials

All perennials require maintenance. Watering, fertilizing, pinching, staking, deadheading, dividing, and providing winter protection are common maintenance chores. Some perennials require frequent attention through the growing season. Others require minimal maintenance. The following perennials require minimal maintenance, but are attractive additions to the home landscape.

Low Maintenance Perennials for Sun

Butterfly Weed

Peony

(Asclepias tuberosa)

(Paeonia hybrids)

False Indigo

Russian Sage

(Baptisia australis)

(Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Gas Plant

Moss Phlox

(Dictamnus albus)

(Phlox subulata)

Hardy Geranium

Balloon Flower

(Geranium spp.)

(Platycodon grandiflorus)

Hardy Zinnia

Coneflower

(Heliopsis helianthoides)

(Rudbeckia spp.)

Daylily

Perennial Salvia

(Hemerocallis spp.)

(Salvia x superba)

Siberian Iris

Stonecrop

(Iris sibirica)

(Sedum spp.)

Blazing Star

Carolina Lupine

(Liatris spp.)

(Thermopsis caroliniana)

Daffodil

Speedwell

(Narcissus spp.)

(Veronica spp.)

Catmint

Ornamental Grasses

(Nepeta spp.)

(Various species)

Low Maintenance Perennials for Shade

Lady's Mantle

Hosta

(Alchemilla mollis)

(Hosta spp.)

Blue Star

Virginia Bluebells

(Amsonia tabernaemontana)

(Mertensia virginica)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Creeping Phlox

(Arisaema triphyllum)

(Phlox stolonifera)

Goat's Beard

Mayapple

(Aruncus) spp.

(Podophyllum peltatum)

Canadian Wild Ginger

Lungwort

(Asarum canadense)

(Pulmonaria spp.)

Heartleaf Brunnera

Bloodroot

(Brunnera macrophylla)

(Sanguinaria canadensis)

Turtlehead

Siberian Squill

(Chelone spp.)

(Scilla sibirica)

Bugbane

False Solomon's Seal

(Cimicifuga racemosa)

(Smilacina racemosa)

Bleeding Heart

Foam Flower

(Dicentra spp.)

(Tiarella cordifolia)

Barrenwort

Ferns

(Epimedium spp.)

(Various species)

Perennials must be planted in their proper environment to be truly low maintenance. Important site considerations are the amount of sunlight and soil conditions. Perennials planted in unfavorable sites will require more care.